The 10 Best Japanese Comics I Enjoyed in 2025 (Which Are Mostly Unknown).

Given the ever-expanding scope of the manga market, it's increasingly difficult to keep up with every worthwhile new series. As always, the mainstream series capture the spotlight, however, countless gems of undiscovered treasures just out of sight.

A key pleasure for a dedicated reader is unearthing a hidden series in the sea of new chapters and recommending it to friends. This list highlights of the top obscure manga I've read in 2025, along with explanations for why they're worthy of attention before they gain widespread popularity.

A few of these titles have not yet reached a broad readership, notably because they are without anime adaptations. A few are trickier to read due to their publishing platforms. However, suggesting any of these provides some serious bragging rights.

10. An Unassuming Salaryman Revealed as a Hero

• Authors: Ghost Mikawa, Yuki Imano, Akira Yuki, Raika Mizuiro
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

Admittedly, this is a weird pick, but let me explain. Manga can be silly, and there's nothing wrong with that. I admit that fantasy escapism is my comfort read. While this series doesn't fully fit the genre, it follows many of the same tropes, including an overpowered main character and a game-influenced setting. The unique hook, however, is found in the protagonist. Keita Sato is your typical overworked Japanese corporate man who unwinds by sneaking into mysterious dungeons that materialized globally, armed only with a baseball bat, to pummel creatures. He doesn't care about treasures, power, or ranking; he only wants to keep his hobby secret, protect his family, and leave the office on time for a change.

More polished fantasies are out there, but this is one of the few from a top company, and thus conveniently readable to international audiences via a free service. Regarding online access, this publisher sets the standard, and if you're looking for a short, lighthearted escape, the series is highly recommended.

9. The Nito Exorcists

• Author: Iromi Ichikawa
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Available on: Manga Plus

Typically, the word "exorcist" in a manga title turns me away due to the saturated market, but two series changed my mind this year. It recalls the best parts of a popular supernatural battle manga, with its creepy atmosphere, stylized art, and unexpected brutality. I started reading it by chance and got hooked instantly.

Gotsuji is a formidable practitioner who purges ghosts in the hope of avenging his teacher's death. He's paired with his mentor's sister, Uruka, who is focused on his safety than fueling his retribution. The premise sounds simple, but the character development is as delicate as the art, and the visual contrast between the silly appearance of the spirits and the gory combat is a compelling layer. This is a series with great promise to run for a long time — should it get the chance.

8. Gokurakugai

• Author: Yuto Sano
• Released by: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus; Viz

If breathtaking art is your priority, then look no further. Yuto Sano's work on this manga is breathtaking, meticulous, and distinctive. The story doesn't stray far from classic shonen conventions, with superpowered people fighting evil spirits (though they're not labeled as exorcists), but the protagonists are distinctly odd and the world is fascinating. The protagonists, Alma and Tao Saotome, run the Gokurakugai Troubleshooter agency, handling issues in a low-income area where two species live side-by-side.

The villains, called Maga, are created from human or animal corpses. In the former case, the Maga possesses abilities connected to the way the human died: a hanging victim has the power to choke people, one who died from self-harm induces hemorrhaging, and so on. It's a gruesome but interesting twist that provides substance to these antagonists. This series might become a major title, but it's held back by its monthly schedule. Since its debut, only a limited number of chapters have been released, which makes it hard to stay invested.

7. Bugle Call: War's Melody

• Authors: Mozuku Sora, Higoro Toumori
• Released by: Shueisha
• Available on: Viz

This bleak fantasy manga approaches the ever-present fight narrative from a fresh perspective for shonen. In place of highlighting individual duels, it showcases epic historical battles. The protagonist, Luca, is one of the Branched—those granted singular talents. Luca's ability lets him transform noise into illumination, which helps him command armies on the battlefield, using his trumpet and upbringing in a ruthless soldier group to become a formidable commander, fighting dreaming of a life beyond war.

The backdrop is a little plain, and the addition of advanced concepts can seem jarring, but this series still delivered dark turns and shocking story pivots. It's a mature shonen with a collection of odd personalities, an engaging magic framework, and an pleasing blend of military themes and dark fantasy.

6. The Cat Parent Adventures of Taro Miyao

• Author: Sho Yamazaki
• Publisher: Shueisha
• Find it on: Manga Plus

A cold-hearted main character who follows the philosophy of Renaissance thinker Niccolò Machiavelli and believes in using any means necessary becomes the owner of a cute cat named Nicolo—reportedly for the reason that a massage from its tiny paws is the only thing that relieves his stiff shoulders. {If that premise isn't enough|Should that not convince you|If the setup doesn't grab you